The Procurement Team have been busy updating current and introducing new processes to make procurement easier, quicker and more efficient, as part of a project to ‘Fix the Engine’.

Margaret Monckton was the sponsor for this improvement work as part of the Finance & Infrastructure strategy. She said:

“I am so pleased about the progress that has been made here.  There is enormous opportunity to achieve increased value from our suppliers but we can only do this once we have the basics rights and fixing the procurement engine room, so that the University can buy compliantly and easily, has been urgently needed. 

A huge well done for the team for what they have achieved with this – this is great demonstration of a team owning the plan to improve and using lean methodology to do it. ”

Amongst the many changes being introduced, a new Procurement Policy has been developed that outlines how expenditure will be supported by procurement going forward.

Additional updates and upgrades to procurement include:

• Launching Amazon Business to allow staff to purchase on Amazon in compliance with procurement regulations
• A new Sharepoint site with refreshed and streamlined procurement guidance, replacing the Workplace site
• Ability to now use a selection of online forms to fill out requests – no more printing, signing and scanning!

At the moment, most p-cards are still on campus, so any requirements for payments via p-cards should be discussed with your FM Team Manager.

In addition to the updates above, the Procurement Team have been meeting with key stakeholders for faculties and professional services to talk about their own profile of expenditure – ensuring that teams are adequately supported to realise the 15% savings for 20/21 and beyond.

Find more information here or for any further queries, please contact your procurement partner.